such who are scrupulously honest in all their dealings, exact in their moral conduct, and who also can join in condemning the formality of most other societies, as it is in those they so freely condemn. I don't mean that the manner of their condemning the formality of others, is uncharitable or blameable, or without real pertinency; but I mean, that a degree of formality as dangerous, and as unseen by themselves, prevails with many of our own members, even, outwardly, very orderly walkers, and such as think that sitting down in silence, is far more acceptable to God, than words uttered in man's time, strength, and wisdom.

I know of nothing more acceptable to God, nor more useful, instructive, and strengthening to the souls of men, than true silent worship, and waiting on God for help immediately from his holy presence; nor of scarcely any thing more formal and lifeless, than that dull, unfeeling silence, which too many of our society are satisfying themselves with, the year round, and from year to year. Oh! it is the life, the life, that is the thing! and this is too little witnessed, or even rightly waited for, by many. Some are not content with such vocal services, as God, by his holy spirit, quickens and immediately qualifies for the performance of; but are busily and zealously doing a great deal of themselves, and in their own puttings forth all which brings them not a whit nearer to God, nor further on in the true christian experience and stability. Others, who see this pretty clearly to be so, are yet sitting at ease, in a state as little profitable to themselves as others. They see through the emptiness of many outward performances, and creaturely exertions; and therefore suppose themselves much more refined, and nearer the true and spiritual worship; and yet scarcely know any thing of that burial "by baptism into death" with Christ, and that rising with him, and in him, in "the newness of life," wherein alone true gospel worship, in spirit and in truth, is performed. And what can be said or done to awaken the one or the other of these sorts of formalists, from their false rest in the letter, and in the outward-court worship, that so, being awakened from sleep, and raised from death and formality, Christ may "give them light," and in and by the shining thereof, guide them into the inner temple, and engage them in the spiritual worship and

devotion thereof! Indeed, if this were to become their happy experience, they would soon see that "by the deeds of the law, no flesh can be saved." No possible performances in the oldness of the letter, and in creaturely ability, will do. It is only in the fresh spring of divine life, and under its quickening influence, that any of our duties and obedience, finds full acceptance with God, or advances us in substantial knowledge and goodness.

"There is none," essentially, and in himself, "good, but one; that is, God." All the good that others have, do, or can attain to, is only by communication and influence from him, the source of all real goodness. He is the worker of all our good works in us. “We are his workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good works." "The preparation of the heart, and answer of the tongue" are from him alone. Therefore, let all wait upon him, feel after him, and draw near unto him, in spirit and in truth; so will he draw near unto them, enliven, and qualify them, for every good word, work, and service. They will not dare to run of themselves, without, or before, nor stay idly behind his leadings. By waiting for his help and putting forth, they will acknowledge, that he works all their works in them; and that they are really, and not only professionally, his workmanship, in all they know, act, and experience in religion. And, at the same time, by a lively co-operation with him in the work, and when he worketh in them, and therein by a diligent working out of their own salvation, through him, and alone in and by his immediate help and influence, they will also acknowledge, that it is not merely unto an opinion, which they call faith, nor unto forms, ceremonies, and outward performances, but strictly, truly, and livingly, "unto good works," that he creates them anew in Christ Jesus.

Here the "twain are made one." Here" the man is not without the woman; nor the woman without the man, in the Lord.” Here, "it is God, that worketh in us." And it is truly we, that, through this his working and influence in us, work out our own salvation. And "what God has thus joined together, let no man put asunder," or think to be saved by any thing that can be done without his own co-operation; nor yet, that of himself, he can do any, the least thing, as of himself, towards his salvation.

CHAPTER IV.

HAVING, Some time before this, dismissed my school at Providence, I opened one at Smithfield, on the 12th of the 4th month 1778, under the care, inspection, and direction of a solid committee appointed by the Monthly Meeting for that purpose. Soon after this, I took several colds one after another, until at length, on the 26th of the 2d month, leaving our Monthly Meeting, being quite unable to sit through it, I went to my sister's, where I was confined several weeks, brought very low, and at times ready to doubt my recovery. Indeed many of my friends and relations pretty much gave over expecting it. I was, after a season of deep exercise and probation, enabled to resign up life and all into the hands of him who made me, and to say in sincerity, thy will be done in life or death. And as I lay one night in great distress of body, and deep thoughtfulness of mind, I was drawn into an awful view of death, eternity, and eternal judgment, in a manner that I never had before; but feeling my mind perfectly resigned to depart this life and launch into an endless eternity, if so the Lord my God should please to order it, and finding all pain of body and anxiety of mind removed, I lay still some time, thinking probably I might ere long be released from all the pangs and toils of time, into the glorious rejoicings of eternal life. But after a considerable length of time had passed in inward and profound stillness and adoration, large fields of labour were opened, and I saw that I must travel from place to place in this and distant lands, in the Lord's commission and service. From this time I never entertained a doubt of my recovery, although I had afterwards a return or two of the disorder more severe than before: for these openings were in the fresh evidence of divine life, which never deceived me. A fulness of divine favour, in the sheddings abroad of the love of God in my heart, remained fresh and living with me through most of the remaining time of my illness. After a few days 1

began to recover, and pretty soon got a little about again, and before a great while, attained my usual state of health. May thanksgiving, and glory, and honour be ever ascribed by my soul to him who has been with me in sickness and in health, supporting and preserving me in both, and enabling me to resign to his divine disposal. May I ever live answerable to such regard of the Highest to me a poor worm of the dust. My soul has been bowed, self has been abased; and through deep prostration I have been made to joy in the Lord, and rejoice in the salvation of my God and saviour.

About the latter end of the 6th month this year, an old acquaintance of mine, being now collector of rates, came and demanded one of me. I asked him what it was for? He said, to sink the paper money. I told him, as that money was made expressly for the purpose of carrying on war, I had refused to take it; and for the same reason could not pay a tax to sink it, believing it my duty to bear testimony against war and fighting. I informed him, that for divers years past, even divers years before the war began, and when I had no expectation of ever being tried in this way, it had been a settled belief with me, that it was not right to pay such taxes; at least not right for me, nor, in my apprehension, right in itself; though many sincere brethren may not at present see its repugnancy to the pure and peaceable spirit of the gospel. I let him know I did not wish to put him to any trouble, but would be glad to pay it if I could consistently with my firm persuasion of duty to my God. He appeared moderate, thoughtful, and rather tender; and after a time of free and pretty full conversation upon the subject, went away in a pleasant disposition of mind, 1 being truly glad to see him so. Divers such demands were made of me in those troublesome times, for divers years. I ever found it best to be very calm and candid; and to open, as I was from time to time enabled, the genuine grounds of my refusal; and that if possible, so as to reach the understandings of those who made the demand.

Sometimes, through holy help, I have rejoiced in perceiving that the divine witness in their hearts, has been so reached, as to rise up in them an advocate for the innocency, uprightness, and christian propriety of my conduct, and conscientious scru

ples and persuasion. I believe I was ever preserved in such meekness, as never to say or do any thing that raised anger or resentment in any of them. They ever heard me with attention, appeared unwilling to distress me, spoke to me in moderation, and left me without distraining any thing from me. And although I could hear of their getting very warm and angry with some Friends, who I feared were a little rough with them, they were constantly quite mild and gentle with me. And though they frequently made heavy distraints, even to very considerable amounts, upon many of our friends, and that to the distressing of some of their families; yet they never took a farthing from me, though I refused entirely to pay any part of divers taxes demanded of me; as also a greater or less proportion of divers others, according as I found them more or less for war-charges, Indeed, I continued to decline the payment, in part or whole, for years after most other Friends made no scruple to pay them; because I found very considerable mixtures of war-charges in them, for some years after the war was over, and therefore could not be easy to pay them. Notwithstanding they told me I was singular and alone, and that all other Friends paid them, they still treated me very respectfully; and though some of them would say, they could not afford to lose it, but must make distraint, and even appointed times when they would come again and do it, yet none of them ever did it.

These things I record in thankful acknowledgment, and commemoration of the Lord's gracious dealings with me, and for encouragement of others to a strict faithfulness to all his requirings.

I may now express a little of what has lived in my mind, as a fixed belief, viz. that a people will one day be raised up, by him who is the great Father of the family and governor of the world, to bear a faithful testimony, in his eternal power, against the payment of such taxes. And this one thing I have no doubt of, that if Friends walk humbly enough, and dwell enough in the inward, attentive, feeling, and discerning state, to discover and discern the signs of the times; to hear the voice and call of the true Shepherd, and follow him faithfully wherever he leadeth; they will hear the call and invitation to this neces